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Edward Scissorhands continues Danny Elfman's trademank style that he had been developing. While it doesn't quite live up to Batman, it's still a wonderful listening experiance, than any score fan shouldn't be without.For the most part, the score to Edward Scissorhands is laid back but hauntingly beautiful. There's a female choir throughout that adds an extra dimension. 'Introduction' starts off with a wonderful waltz supported by a tinkly celeste (on of my favorite instruments). This theme is prominant throughout the score. The other main theme is a mostly-rising figure that is so beautiful despite its simplicity. It's heard in 'The Ice Dance' and 'The Grand Finale' amoung others. Of course, there's also some trademark Elfman bouncy music, in 'Edward the Barber', which is one of Elfman's best examples of this sort of playfulness. 'The Final Confronation' the the only real action-type music, and it's very good, with the choir still haveing its input.Overall, this score is a classic that shouldn't be passed up. It's not the best Elfman has to offer but it's as beautiful as a score comes.

So far this is the best I've heard from Danny Elfman and I'll be stunned if I ever hear him do better.This is a most magical, sad, fun, beautiful, touching, wintery experience. A musical journey. This is one of those rare and special times where the score of the movie carries it along and punctuates it in such a way that the movie could be seen as, on one significant level, a story told in pictures and music. This is a score without which the movie would be just inconceivable.Danny Elfman is the perfect musical counterpart to genius Tim Burton. This music like Tim Burton's movies has the truly unique ability to convey the dark and the cold and the tragic in a way which is tender, melancholic, hopeful, innocent, heartbreaking and magical, rather than evil.Every track is wonderful. The instrumentation and the use of magical, "wintery" choruses create a fantastic feel. The Introduction is so sweeping and inviting, Storytime beautifully conveys the opening context of the film as a bedtime tale of a grandmother's youth, The Castle On The Hill puts us back in time and into that story made vital in its telling, Beautiful New World is charming, The Cookie Factory is so much fun, the Ice Dance, short, climactic, romantic and (not to overuse this word!) magical. Edwardo The Barber features some delightful, quirky, skillfully mad violining to accompany Edward's charming haircutting exploits. Death! is so tragic, and the ending tracks tell the story of the rest of the exciting action and fated climax of a poignant and beautiful film in a way analagous to the film itself, with subtlety and power rather than sentimentality. And the music comes full circle with the return to the grandmother and the closing credits.Read more ›

With a long history of storytelling, Tim Burton has turned to Danny Elfman in almost every instance to find the right music. And Elfman has never been wrong! Edward Scissorhands is the perfect example!Not only does the album clearly set the mood of the film, but it also reflects the darker and lighter sides of the human nature. The Opening Theme is a haunting and brillinat masterpiece. It is quite possibly his best written theme, because it so beautifully sets viewers in the world of Edward. From there, the remainder of the first "half" of the soundtrack takes off into a more or less light-hearted jog through Edward's contact with the "real" world.The album is divided into two main sections, much like chapters in a book. This is genius in its own right, because it is clear that both Burton and Elfman want everyone to know that the story of Edward is a fairy tale. The second half of the album takes listeners into the darkness of fear and rejection. As Edward is slowly exiled from the only world he has known (besides the isolated castle and inventor), he becomes confused and those around him become hostile. All of this is clearly conveyed in the tracks of "Poor Edward!"Finally, is the addition of "With These Hands," which is sung by legend Tom Jones. The song would have been fine on a Jones solo album, but it seems awkward included on this soundtrack. It does not fit, and despite the film's obvious symbolism and focus on hands, the song should have been left off. The brilliant way Burton and Elfman created the world of Edward and the hand symbolism did not need to be muddled by this track.

Danny Elfman seems perfectly suited to creating a soundscape which matches Tim Burton's worlds. Elfman's first full score was the impressive and zany PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE which was also Burton's first film. (Personally, I thought that the great music is what made the film bearable-I'm not a big Pee Wee fan). And the relationship has been highly fruitful right up through the success of SLEEPY HOLLOW. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS is a particularly bright gem in the jewels of this Elfman/Burton association.Realizing that this film is a re-telling of the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale is an important key in grasping the full depth of both the music and the film. Burton brought "The Beast" (Johnny Depp as "Edward") into "Beauty's" (Winona Ryder as "Kim Boggs") world for his version. Elfman brought along a sense of fairy tale wonder with his music. From the beginning notes on the celesta to the concluding strains of the orchestra in the end credits, Elfman imbues the film with a magical sound which wholly complements the atmosphere of the film. The soundtrack is divided into two sections, "Part One: Edward Meets the World...." and "Part Two: ...Poor Edward!" This gives a musical interpretation of the two sides to this story; that of the peaceful Edward and the suspicious nature of the Boggs' neighbours.The music of "Introduction" for the opening titles of the film introduces Edward's theme, and the beautiful but wistful feeling of his theme suggests the melancholy nature of the story. It flows effortlessly from start to finish and moves seamlessly into the next track, "Storytime." This track gives an appropriately nostalgic flavour to the "Once upon a time..." setting of the grandmother telling her her granddaughter the story of Edward Scissorhands.Read more ›